5SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2012

TODAY in Italy we celebrate the 66th anniversary of the foundation of the Italian

Republic. On June 2, 1946, after the calamity of the war, the constitutional referendum held by universal suffrage took place that resulted in a Republican form of State being adopted. The date became therefore a crucial event of Italian contemporary history and the country’s National Day.

From that turning point, Italy recovered its policy of friendly relations with all its neighbors and the rest of the international community, becoming in a handful of years an infl uential regional power and one of the major world economies.

With the foundation of the Republic, moreover, Italy went back to the original spirit of its “Mediterranean vocation”, under the banner of peace and in recognition of the crucial principle of people’s self determination, the right of every people to determine its own political destiny. It was in other words the return to the former tradition of a “diplomacy of friendship”: a model of diplomacy typically Italian, conceived to handle the external relations favoring the establishment of dialogue and cooperation with all the countries, and particularly with those of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. A model that is in its very nature fl exible and opposed to every form of clash of civilizations.

It is not a coincidence, therefore, that an Italian scholar from the University of Naples, Prof. Matteo Pizzigallo, entitled his work on the relationship between Italy and Saudi Arabia from 1932 to 1942: “the diplomacy of friendship”. A Treaty of Friendship and a Treaty of commerce between the two countries were in fact signed in February 1932. In the current year we are therefore celebrating the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic and trade relations between Italy and Saudi Arabia. The Italian Government and the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Rome, on the initiative of H.E. Ambassador Saleh Mohammed Al Ghamdi, are therefore tentatively organizing a series of events to commemorate this occasion. They should take place, predictably, the next fall, pending the fi nal approval by the Italian and Saudi Authorites.

With the signature of the above-mentioned agreements, Italy continued its ancient tradition of relations between the Italian peninsula and the Orient. It is suffi cient to consider, for example, the tradition of Venetian merchants dominating the trade with the East. Relations that have always been particularly strong with the Islamic and Arab world.

As a matter of fact, after the signature of the Friendship and Commerce Treaties in 1932, and with only a brief interruption

of the relations during the Second World War, the political, economic and cultural relations between Italy and Saudi Arabia have been growing strongly, as to cover practically all sectors of bilateral interest.

The relations between our countries go much beyond the commercial fi gures. Especially here, in Jeddah, a few kilomets from the holiest city of Islam, we can reaffi rm what the former Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Franco Frattini stated in an article on the occasion of one of his visit to the Kingdom: that Rome and Mecca are the poles of an historical area, the enlarged Mediterranean, representing the cradle of this driving force of History that are the monotheistic religions of the Peoples of the Book.

Today Italy and Saudi Arabia are convinced that the basis of international stability lies in dialogue and multilateralism under the auspices of international institutions. Italy: a very active member of the UN, founder of the European Union, member of the G8. Saudi Arabia: a Country that, in particular under the wise leadership of Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul «ziz, is building its road into a solid future, is increasingly present in the UN institutions, is a leading member of the Gulf Cooperation Council and a member of the G20. Both countries agree on the crucial issue of global economic governance, in particular the need to coordinate national policies and to strengthen the international fi nancial architecture, inspired by criteria of transparency and paying the utmost attention to the legitimate aspirations of emerging countries.

While we celebrate the anniversary of our diplomatic relations, my hope is that we will live up to the level of the trust placed on our shoulders and to the expectations of our people, as we work together, Italians and Saudis, Arabs and Europeans, to face the challenges that this new era brings. Actually, that is what friends are for.

Simone PetroniThe Consul General of Italy

in Jeddah

By Roberta FedeleSaudi Gazette

A Treaty of Friendship and a Treaty of Commerce were signed on Feb. 10, 1932

at the Royal Palace of Jeddah by Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Hijaz, Najd and its annexes, Prince Faisal Bin Abdulaziz and Italian Consul Guido Sollazzo in the presence of Saudi Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Fuad Hamza and the commander in chief of the Minelayer “R.N. Azio”, an Italian ship expressly arrived in Jeddah for the celebration of this solemn event.

Faisal’s and Sollazzo’s signatures paved the way for long years of successful diplomatic relations between Italy and Saudi Arabia. On the 80th anniversary of this historical event, it is interesting to recall some episodes and curious diplomatic anecdotes that characterized those moments with the help of Matteo Pizzigallo, Scholar of Economic Diplomacy and Professor of History of International Relations at the University of Naples Federico II.

Pizzigallo’s work, “The Diplomacy of friendship: Italy and Saudi Arabia (1932-1942),” not only describes the signature of the Jeddah Treaties but also guides the reader through the history of Italian-Saudi relationships in the years that saw the rise of legendary King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud and the tenacious work of Italian diplomats in Jeddah. These diplomats were able in the early 30s to perceive the favorable climate to the reinforcement of Italy’s economic and commercial presence in Saudi Arabia, a country eager to foster diplomatic relations as a counterbalance to the strong English political infl uence of that time.

Published in Riyadh in 2005 by King Abdulaziz Foundation for Researches and Archives, the book reconstructs the political environment preceding and succeeding the ratifi cation of the treaties and recalls in its fi rst chapter Italy’s initial diffi culties (1927–1930) to recognize King Abdulaziz’s sovereignty over the regions of Hijaz, Najd and annexes.

The Italian Ministry of the Colonies and the Governor of Eritrea Gasparini, sustained by Benito Mussolini, promoted at that time a foreign policy based on a privileged relationship with Yemen that was against King Abdulaziz’s annexation of the Asir region.

In order not to compromise its relationships with Yemen, Italy proposed a sort of “recognition with reserve” to King Abdulaziz. Despite

several negotiating tables, the King always refused to welcome this kind of formula especially in light of the fact that many countries including England, France, Holland and the Soviet Union had fully recognized his sovereignty since 1927.

The situation began to change in 1929 thanks to the new Italian Consul in Jeddah Guido Sollazzo who perceived the counterproductive effect of Italy’s old political approach incapable of foreseeing the political and economic advantages

of stipulating agreements with a country that was to discover an arsenal of natural resources and start an incredible modernization program. Sollazzo encouraged the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dino Grandi to mark a new phase in the history of Italian-Saudi relations disconnecting them from the intricate Yemeni issue. His tenacity was essential to the stipulation of the Treaties of Friendship and Commerce on Feb. 10, 1932 and favored Italy’s offi cial recognition

A diplomacy of friendship Message

THE Canadian-American economist John Kenneth Galbraith, to explain the miracle of post war Italian

reconstruction, claimed that “the real reason is that Italy has incorporated in its products an essential component of culture, and cities such as Milan, Parma, Florence, Siena, Venice, Rome, Naples and Palermo, while having very poor infrastructure, display in their standard of living a huge amount of beauty”.

This is the source from where the creativity of our production system, based on beauty and harmony, originates. Italian design and the greater part of what is considered beautiful in the world identify with Italian products.

There are certainly other, more ancient civilizations, but surely, no other has steadily produced as much as Italy throughout the centuries. And even in periods of decadence, there were no interruptions in the creative process in all fi elds; from the visual arts to architecture, engineering, music, literature, cinema, philosophy, law, the political and social sciences, the exact sciences, in contexts that have spread out throughout the world absorbing contributions from other civilizations.

The Etruscan roots, Greek-Roman and Judeo-Christian, the contribution of Islam, the immensity of the Renaissance, have all taken from the world, then elaborated, enriched and returned to the world the

highest in knowledge and creation. This ability is typical of the greatest civilizations, although none have done so with such intensity as our peninsula.

Italy is the country that counts the highest number of UNESCO cultural and natural sites (47 in a world list of 936). From the North to the South, all sites, well beyond those surveyed by UNESCO, testify this magnitude. A tremendous responsibility: a great heritage to be preserved.

This great historical and artistic heritage makes Italy the fi rst in the world despite its rather limited size, about 60 million people who reside in an area of just 300,000 square kilometers. But if culture is well rooted in our past, it is also a pillar of the present, of progress and sustainability.

The cultural industry is a signifi cant part of the production of wealth and employment in Italy: 4.9% of GDP, 1,400,000 employees, 400,000 businesses involved.

The Italian fi lm production industry is the third in the world. In the last 10 years as much as 1207 fi lms have been put on the market. Book industry is also a strong asset: Italy counts a very high number of publishing companies (7,590 in 2010); the De Agostini Group is ranking 10th in the world for sales. Turin, with the “Salone Internazionale del Libro” hosts the second largest book fair in Europe, the fi rst one since 2006 for the number of visitors.

Not to mention the indirect but

powerful (not easily measurable) effect of culture on the promotion in the world of Italy as a top tourist destination. Italy’s heritage draws more than 45 million visitors every year, making tourism our primary industry, accounting for 8.6% of GDP and makes Italy a brand of quality and beauty.

Besides, Italy has been supporting archaeological, anthropological and ethnological missions abroad for many years.

These missions are not only scientifi c, but are also a valuable tool for training of local operators and provide technology transfer in some sectors, such as archaeology, restoration and protection of cultural heritage, in which Italy has an internationally recognized level of excellence. This activity also represents a commitment to actively contribute to intercultural dialogue and development policies in many countries, even remote areas, where missions are sometimes the only Italian cultural presence.

Italy is second only to China in the export of design products, for a global value of $24,802 millions. It is also second (to Germany) for the number of registered patents (2003-2009).

It is no coincidence that our quality products are the ones that suffer the highest number of imitations and counterfeits. It is not only that which is made in Italy or has an Italian brand that attracts, but often also

what just “sounds Italian”, often causing serious damage to those who produce genuine Italian products. From the depths of Italian culture derive great clothes, houses, furniture, gardens, landscapes; a “wellness” that accompanies the image of our country, the fl avours of the territory, the benefi ts of scientifi c production and potential for innovation in all fi elds.

It is because of this evocative power that the Italian language is one of the most popular in the world “holding the fourth place” even though it is only the mother tongue of the inhabitants of the peninsula and few others. We promote the language through the action of 89 cultural institutes, 180 Italian public and private schools, 111 Italian departments in foreign schools and 303 universities.

Italy counts 19 Nobel prizes and has a great list of personalities who represent our excellence in the world, in all fi elds of culture. Among the contemporary ones, let us just remember Rita Levi Montalcini, Carlo Rubbia, Umberto Veronesi and Antonio Zichichi in science; Roberto Benigni, Roberto Bolle and Riccardo Muti in music and performing arts; Umberto Eco and Dario Fo in literature and philosophy; Renzo Piano, Gae Aulenti and Maurizio Cattelan in art and architecture.

A long economic and fi nancial crisis, like the one we are globally facing, and its uncertain outcome with potential serious

social consequences, call for the best energies of the country. The contractions of the budgets will force Italy to rationalize, but, with innovative methods and tools, it will continue to respond to this great desire for Italy. This should happen in synergy with the guidelines set by the Lisbon meeting in 2000, which outline a matrix conceptual framework for policy makers anchored on four key themes: entrepreneurial creativity, development of new opportunities related to the creative sector; formation of creative clusters; integrated planning creative places.

In this direction goes for instance the effort of some Italian business personalities, such as Diego Della Valle (Tod’s) and Luca Cordero di Montezemolo (Ferrari), who are convinced of the absolute priority of protecting Italy’s global image “as their business rely on the prestige of the country.” This is why they engaged in saving Italy’s heritage with cash donation and sponsorships: Della Valle has donated this year $7 million for the Scala Theatre of Milan, that he defi nes as one of the 10 top symbols of Italy’s cultural excellences, and $36 millions for the renovation of the Coliseum in Rome.

Moving from the awareness that “culture is our core business,” Montezemolo has recently launched an initiative to sponsor projects across the country involving all actors who rely on the “Made in Italy reputation.”

Italy, a cultural superpower in Europe

of King Abdulaziz’s reign. Pizzigallo concludes his

introductory chapter dedicated to the Jeddah treaties and the consequent consolidation of Italo-Saudi relations describing in detail the ratifi cation ceremony that took place at Palazzo Chigi in Rome on April 22 and Prince Faisal’s experience and warm welcome in Italy.

Accompanied by Sollazzo and Undersecretary of State Hamza, the prince arrived in Naples on board of the Italian steamship Crispi sent on purpose to Jeddah to take him. After he met in Rome with King Vittorio Emanuele III and Prime Minister Benito Mussolini, he proceeded to the ratifi cation of the treaties with Italian Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Fani. He also had the chance to visit in the following days the steel works of Terni and various factories in Turin including FIAT’s plants.

Unknown to the majority of people today, these faraway events contributed to shape the present Italian-Saudi friendly and precious relationships. Pizzigallo’s narration continues beyond the Jeddah treaties until 1942 and browses the work of other passionate and discerning Italian diplomats such as Ottavio De Peppo whose skilful diplomacy was to be darkened by the unfortunate season of the Second World War.

However, using Pizzigallo’s words, “despite the interlude of the war, Italian diplomats upgraded Italian-Saudi relationships to a wider frame building personal relationships with the highest Saudi authorities based on trust and reciprocal esteem. Even though their suggestions did not always reach Italian fi nal decision-makers, their experiences entered the historical memory of Italian foreign policy that, many years later, took inspiration from them to build a diplomacy of friendship with Arab states.”

The Minelayer “R.N. Azio”, an Italian ship that arrived in Jeddah to celebrate the signing.